Ride for the Constitution spokesperson Zeeda Andrews, interviewed Tuesday on Fox News’ “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren,” mentioned trucking “regulations” broadly in describing the convoy’s mission, but also pointed to the effort’s main purpose: “We want the president of the United States removed from office. He is a threat to our national security. He is a threat to our way of life.”

The organizers of the Ride of the Constitution rally have split with bobtail convoy coordinator Earl Conlon.

Andrews and co-organizer Pete Santilli, an online radio host, have distanced themselves from driver Earl Conlon, formerly the coordinator of the Ride’s bobtail convoy into Washington, D.C. Conlon told the Washington Post he lied to U.S. News reporter Steven Nelson about parts of the convoy’s intentions to maximize mainstream media attention.

As reported via the Land Line Media Blog, original demands on the page included “remove Obama from office for crimes of treason and misdemeanors. We want Congressional hearing on Benghazi and Seal Team 6. Louis (Lois) Learner put in jail. No amnesty, remove all Muslims in our government that do not uphold the Constitution. Remove Eric Holder from office for crimes against the people and the Constitution. Last but not least is Fuel prices.”

The focus on Obama and other federal elected officials is part of a convoy, consisting of truckers and others, planned for Friday to roll through the District of Columbia. In addition to a primary rally point at the Doswell Truck Stop in Doswell, Va., the Ride for the Constitution Facebook page is also now promoting a gathering of drivers at the Wilco location in Harrisburg, Pa., on I-81, exit 77. Driver J.B. Schaffner, a signatory to the Ride’s manifesto, says drivers will be starting there at 4 a.m.

A separate tractor-trailer convoy is planned to circle the beltway Friday and get the attention of politicians and the general public by causing a traffic jam. Andrews and other organizers are calling for supporting actions outside of D.C., including truckers shutting down and the general public refraining from spending money Friday through Sunday.

Land Line’s publisher, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, issued a statement opposing the demonstration, saying its leaders have no ties with trucking and until recently lacked a trucking-related agenda.

The focus on “Muslims in government” on the original Facebook page manifesto raised the ire of many. One was Overdrive blogger Wendy Parker, who wrote that while trucking problems are worthy of attention, “All the other ancillary causes need their own platform.”

Owner-operator Jason Haggard criticized the effort on his blog, objecting to the very name of the original effort, still in force via the #T2SUA hashtag organizers are using in their promotions.

“Is the goal of any professional driver out here today to shut down America?” Haggard asked. “I know I can speak for many of them who don’t want to hurt the country even further, but they are willing to do what they must to get the attention focused to the issues that impact them every day.”

Haggard added that organizers “keep adding things that aren’t really pressing issues – fuel prices, emissions and other stuff. What about over-regulation, drivers getting paid for their time? … They’re just adding anything to keep people jumping on board with them to whip people into a frenzy to support their political agenda.”

Andrews, Haggard noted, “went from a former parking-lot singer at a truck stop to a former driver,” referring to early Ride press that called Andrews a “former trucker.”

Andrews has said she knows how to drive a truck and feels an affinity with truckers from her past touring experience and family connections to trucking. She has never hauled commercially or had a CDL, she said.

“This [entire effort] has the potential to blow up in everybody’s faces,” Haggard said.

When Overdrive spoke with Conlon again the morning of Wednesday, October 9, he was on the road, in the company tractor the former owner-operator now drives for a living. He declined to name the carrier he drives for at company request, but did say he still owns a truck but is wary of being in business for himself given the state of the economy and U.S. government today.

Santilli’s statement to reporter Nelson that Conlon “is not even a trucker” is not true, according to Conlon. “They are making me out to be the bad guy, but that’s all right,” he said. He will still throw his support behind the Ride effort. “I do want peaceful, I do want lawful and I do want successful. I support this effort.”

“They lack focus and determination,” McKelvie said of the Ride’s planners and promoters. “Their plans of staging keep changing…. They have yet to listen to us honestly.”

Owner-operator dispatcher Michael Winton, of Cookeville, Tenn., was also a part of the same call. He said that while he agrees with widespread complaints over regulations, rates and other trucking problems, “I’m leery of attaching myself to this cause. I wish the best for all the drivers participating and hope that something changes for the better.”

Others, however, like driver Conlon, are on board with the effort. “Piggybacking on this monster is the only immediate answer” to many of drivers’ grievances, wrote independent owner-operator Rey Moreno in the discussion under Rutherford’s column. Moreno called the Ride effort “the only immediate vehicle to demonstrate our frustrations … I’m tired of being a whipping post and cash machine, and I refuse to just give up or walk away. Congress gets their way by shutting down, and eventually so shall we!”

The Ride’s latest manifesto, which you can read via Overdrive’s October 7 story on its release, begins with an intro that immediately invokes the name “Barry Soetoro, aka Barack Obama,” which relies on a theory that the Soetoro surname is President Obama’s legal name. This originates in part from a 2009 April Fool’s Day email that circulated widely.

It purported to be an Associated Press story claiming a young Obama applied for a foreign-aid scholarship to Occidental College as a foreign student, using his mother’s Indonesian surname by marriage. According to the rumor-verification website Snopes.com, the scholarship did not exist then, nor did the group cited as having claimed evidence of the application, among much other evidence of the story’s hoax status.

Long before he was president, [Barry Soetoro, aka] Barack Obama, was already plotting [with others] to overturn the Constitution of the United States. In a chilling 2001 public radio interview, Obama said that the Constitution was, “a charter of negative liberties, full of constraints imposed upon us by our Founding Fathers.”

The Ride manifesto goes on to allege congressional attempts between 2003 and 2008 to “change Article 2, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution on eight separate occasions, to make it possible for Barack Obama to meet the eligibility requirements for the office of president.” The manifesto’s introduction then alleges that “a legal investigation has proven that his documents provided are forgeries, which is a felony offense.”

FMCSA writes its own, rules, regulations, codes, guidelines and standards.
Once they are entered into the Federal Register they have the power of law.

Its the House of Representatives that gives FMCSA more and more money each year and all FMCSA and other agencies do is to hire more college trained idiots to vomit out more rules, regulations, codes, guidelines and standards and then ask Congress for more money.

Cut off the money and the snake is DEAD.

Ron Palmieri

Great care must be considered in this patriotic effort to effect change. With the might of our industry, we could easily provoke an all too willing and prepared administration. The truth of events…….. have betrayed the hearts and minds of our leaders and warrant the most diligent, focused and prompt attention. Hopefully attention here will be a byproduct of tending our own issues and we can draw parallels with modeling our effort from their own. Just as you can’t teach people to drive from the seat of your truck, you can’t change politics that way either. In this time and space…energies are better spent fending for yourselves, so you can be back another day and another way….32 year old rates are a great example of corporate trump in our politics and as glaring of consequence is of our future in current form.

Ron Palmieri

Take another hit on that crack pipe…your gonna need it. D/B!!

Cathy

name callin fools

HMMMM

Cathy

Hey Occupy got all kind of good press and nobody at Occupy had a clue what it was about. It’s all about the MSM making what they want out of something

And it’s funny how the people calling people name callers don’t realize they are the ones doing it

right wing birther

Cathy

How is he the best president. He’s the best president at dividing this country. The only thing he has accomplished is getting a horrible healthcare bill through and that’s when he had the house the senate .

Cathy

And communist are very smart. The problem is you have a very dumb leader. He’s blowing his cover too soon

David S. McQueen

This protest seems to be a false flag operation, instigated by leftists to present conservative truckers as some sort of radical extremists trying to overthrow the government. There are other methods, more effective, to illustrate our contempt for Obama and his Marxist cabal. Shooting ourselves in the foot to draw attention ain’t one of them.

David S. McQueen

Kevin, the professional troll, needs to get a day job.

David S. McQueen

A wise man once said that you don’t shrink the government by “cutting spending”; you have to eliminate entire agencies. There are federal agencies whose work could either be eliminated or farmed out to the states.

Mind Games

Is this person working for the government??? Let me this fat b***h gets up in public says some stupid s**t and makes us looks like fools then when we really do want to air our grievances we won’t because of this fat b***h and what she did???
May God help us all….

bryan

funny how the majority of name calling is from the liberal/democrat side LOL the ignorance of the liberals/democrats far outweight that of the Conservatives/republicans.
Just a personal observation although I support neither side because they are all dumb and blind

David S. McQueen

The FMCSA is administered by Anne Ferro who reports to Secty of Transportation (Fox) who reports to the POTUS. That’s what Obama has to do with the FMCSA. Learn how your beloved government works, then you can fix it.

http://huggyboo2u.wix.com/truckers-unite Earl Conlon

well that’s what i would of liked to happen but it is not the goals of the leaders of the rally i guess.

David S. McQueen

Lenny, you know that’s not true. Any FMCSA proposed regulation must be published in the FR for public comment and the FMCSA must listen (see 5 U.S.C.). While the FMCSA regulations have stautory underpinings, they do not have the “power of law”. I deal with FMCSA regulatory compliance every day. Congress was given the authority to regulate commerce between the states by the US Constitution. See also US v. Lopez, US v. Morrison, et al.

Lenny Ladner

Congress can curtail the authority of these agencies by cutting back funding.

Now my question to you is …

Do you want more government or less government?????

I want an answer

And not legal mumbo jumbo

Mind Games

Dude don’t feel so guilty racism has been here for years and just because there is in fact a black man in the White House don’t mean its gone!!! Get a grip on reality dude that sickness is going to be here for many more generations to come.

Mind Games

He appointed many to those positions and they have it for us drivers just stick around you ain’t seen nothing yet!

Mind Games

Our industry problems are as follows…. Our pay is substandard while what’s expected of us is extremely high and very difficult given the person(s) placed into cabinet positions by the Obama administration FMCSA DOT etc many have no experience nor can see anything from the drivers seat however many can see quite well from a fascist point of view for some strange reason? Must be all the lobbyist the large carriers sent to bribe our elected officials to do their dirty work. Be that it may and in with the list…. We are in fact treated like the Negro was back in the 40’s-50’s only on a different level instead of being hung under a tree we are hung on a court of law and quite high even if it wasn’t our fault that the four wheeler hit us and died those people who have been around for over 3,000 years will find a way to make it our fault thus you hang for 5 years or more they are known as lawyers.
We are expected to be good Metros and not complain about the way we are treated and many don’t complain about it they just keep shuffling their feet and keep grinning and keep right on shining those shoes.
Now drivers will be quick to fight each other but they don’t dare run up on their corporate master or the slave catcher in the scale house!
I could go on but one of these good house Negros might complain about the truth and thus I get banned.
So I will end this post with is “Are you going to stay on the plantation and keep ya mouth shut or are you going say to the powers that be I am a man and you will treat me as such and you will reflect that respect into my pay”. And by the way yes I am a black man just not a stupid black man who will keep his mouth shut and keep shucking and jiving myself that all is well in this industry.

Mind Games

Its not metro its Negros! damn cellphone takes over on this memory gobbling site!

Myron LInd

If these poor saps run their business the same way they are running this “protest”, no wonder they are struggling.

Julie Delp

Pathetic. Why don’t you use your influence for something worthy and achievable. Over-regulation should be at the TOP of the list. We are strangled every day in our ability to serve America. We need relief, not a bunch of jokers out there turning this into a circus.

Kevin J. Reidy

Dave, give it up, most of the people posting have no clue as to how federal agencies regulate, nor do they even understand where the authority to do so comes from.

So many “Constitutional Scholars” who couldn’t even explain how a Bill becomes Law, or what Marbury vs Madison meant to adjudicating legislation as constitutional in the first place.

Del Ray Johnson

THANK YOU ! Focus man yes Kathy should on on the (S)Limebaugh or O’Really factor does not the protest has taken a bad turn with this silly story.

Tery

that I agree with! but as bad as it is, this is still the GREATEST country in the world even with all of our problems! also racism is world wide not just localized to the united states! and as far as having a black man in office. I don’t have a problem with that! I think its about time! that being said I do believe we have the wrong one there!!!

Bigwheel

Before this all started I have been shut down from August 27 and have not moved as of today in my own protest. I may go back on the road in January.

Bigwheel

The rates, fuel and new regulation is what has put me in a protest.

WendyJeremy Vaughn

I support the shut down, unfortunately I don’t have the money to be there. However I am shutting my truck down at home and will not be running or spending money this weekend. You have my support all the way.

Giddyupgo

What Obama policies do you specifically point to? Please enlighten us. Blanket statements, without backup, do nothing to further the cause or entice people to join with you in the fight.

Lenny Ladner

What would happen to these agencies if congress cut their budgets in the reverse order that they were expanded????

All the new rules put in in 2011 would not be funded in 2013.
2014 will fund the agency at 2010 levels. All the increases in said agency from 2010 would be taken out.

We need to cut ALL THESE AGENCIES back to a point of impotence.

Let the government workers find out what earning a living is like.

Joseph Morris

I do not like labels. I as an o/o. a 1 truck fleet, am proud to see drivers join together. But, I went to a lot of lost income to attend the ride for more say in regulation only to discover now that the purpose is a sham. I support OBAMA stateing the obvious- that a small part of congress does not agree with the voice of the people and as the next election comes closer they must shift the blame. Our system allows for certain rules. To claim that the people who checked the credentials of the Presidential candidates were bought off and still not caught after almost seven years. To blame the Republican refusal to pass a budget on MUSLIM influence. To blame a religious sect for greed at the pump. Where did these people get their education and why is OVERDRIVE and FACEBOOK endorsing these statements.

http://www.AskTheTrucker.com Allen Smith

Many drivers who are involved do not actually know about the demands for the “Ride” and even when they find out, they don’t care. They are frustrated and just want to be a part of it, displaying what has become their breaking point regardless of consequences.

The end result could very well turn out negative however, as the public will not know driver true frustrations and they may end up being associated with a radical movement instead.

The Media itself will dictate what “they” say the “Drivers Ride” goals and demands are targeted for, and it may not look pretty when it’s over..
We’ll have to wait and see what the outcome is.
We’ll be discussing it again tonight in the Open Topic Forum on Truth About Trucking “Live” 7PM ET

Obama is not the one dividing the country, it’s those moron teabaggers who have no idea what running a is about. I could be a better rep than any of them. Want proof? Google ‘Terror babies.’

AJW

Um… have you been paying attention to anything happening in this Country? I suggest taking a look at a documentary entitled “The Project”. 1hr 33mins of your life will open your eyes wide sir.

AJW

I say shut er down. Stop moving goods and people will listen. EVERYTHING in this country is moved by truck at one point, if the truckers refuse to turn their keys… everything stops. Then you will have their undivided attention.
I’m a US Marine and I support this message. IMPEACH MY BOSS NOW. PLEASE. HE IS KILLING US…. LITERALLY. Don’t make us handle it, you won’t like it.

Kevin

Speaking of guys who can’t spell…just saying

Kevin

Wow, I know this May sound petty, someone that can make valid point and actually knows how to write and spell….just saying

Stephen

Impeach Obama!!!!!!!!!!

Dale Abshire

Zeeda, what I’ve watched so far, one guy stated it’s not to tell these politicians they got to go. If not, this doesn’t pay. My donations will stop. God bless America.

chazzz

WHAT is wrong with living withen our means.Obama has spent more money than ALL of the previous presidents COMBINED. We have got to stop borrowing money from foreign countrys and get the debt under control.Obamacare is unworkabkle,way to expensive, and gives the government way to much control.You sound like a communist, why don’t you move to Russia or China. You would fit right in. Obama is the most divisive president we have ever had. Smaller government,less regulation on business,fewer taxes, more freedom, and prosperity for everyone, even you.

chazzz

I look at the facts, not who is saying what. I could not care less what Glenn or Rush say altho a lot of what they say is true. I see what is happening to our country, listen to a lot of different news sources and make an educated decision on who is speaking the truth. I do not follow the blind leading the blind. Got better things to do than this with a POC, I am outtahere

Kevin

Actually, the US deficit has fallen at record levels for the last two years. How does that fit in with your little diatribe?

Kevin

Best… President… Ever,,,

David S. McQueen

I’m a Libertarian-Republican and I halfway agree. Pissing people off doesn’t persuade them to come over to your side. That’s what the convoy will do: get people angry at truckers. The media will demonize ALL truckers because of the actions of a few and it will give Obama even more ammunition to call conservatives “extremists”. Obama’s looking for his “Reichstag moment”; don’t hand it to him.

David S. McQueen

There are many programs that go unfunded now. It’s nothing new. To defund an entire agency, you have to pass a budget. The US Senate will never go along with the House defunding an entire agency because Majority Leader Reid won’t even bring a budget to the Senate floor for a vote if it contains that sort of defunding. Have you been paying attention? There hasn’t been a federal budget in the US for over 4 years, only CRs (continuing resolutions).

David S. McQueen

Agree. Actually, I got one NPRM retracted by the FMCSA a short time ago. I and three other commenters convinced the agency to retract a proposed definition. The system works (if one knows how to work within the system instead of throwing bombs).

David S. McQueen

It’s called the “Rule of Law”. You whine about Obama not complying with the US Constitution, yet you support civil unrest and violence. I think you’re a Marxist flying a false flag.

Guest

I will waste no more time with a blind follower of Obama like you.If you ever do some fact checking on what the left is saying/doing it might open your eyes.

Guest

Your right about who needs to be put on the hot seat, but this also goes with the Obama agenda to change America. It goes full circle back to him. I drove 88-97 all over the US when log books (comic books) were used. Things were a lot simpler. I don’t think I would even try to drive now with all the restrictions. Anyway,got well over a million safe driven miles under my belt and understand what your all trying to do. Hope it does some good